After spending a couple of days exploring Dublin, we boarded the train to Killarney, the gateway to one of Ireland’s most celebrated natural treasures—Killarney National Park.

Established as Ireland’s first national park, it is home to pristine lakes, oak tree forests, waterfalls, mountains, and historic estates.

We spent the next 3 days exploring not only the national park but also the surrounding attractions that make County Kerry one of Ireland’s most scenic regions.

Day 1 – Arrival in Killarney, Torc Waterfall & Ladies View

The train journey from Dublin to Killarney took about three and a half hours and offered beautiful views of the Irish countryside.

After checking into our hotel near the train station, we decided not to waste the afternoon.

we hired a taxi for approximately €80, including waiting time, to visit Torc Waterfall and Ladies View, two of the park’s most popular attractions.

Torc Waterfall – Our first stop was Torc Waterfall, just a short drive from Killarney town. The waterfall is only a few minutes’ walk from the parking area, making it one of the easiest attractions to visit in the park.

Although not very tall, the waterfall is surrounded by lush woodland and the short walk through the forest adds to the experience, making it an ideal stop even if one is short on time.

Ladies View – From Torc Waterfall we continued to Ladies View, one of the most photographed viewpoints in Ireland.

The panorama overlooking the Lakes of Killarney is certainly beautiful and worth a stop for photographs. However, after all the glowing reviews, we personally found it attractive rather than spectacular.

One useful tip for future visitors: if you’re planning to take a Ring of Kerry tour, you don’t need to make a separate trip to Ladies View. We later realized our Ring of Kerry tour stopped there anyway, making our separate taxi visit somewhat unnecessary.

Day 2 – Killarney House, Gardens & the Magical Gap of Dunloe

Before our Gap of Dunroe tour, we spent some time at Killarney House & Gardens, located just a short walk from the town centre.

The beautifully maintained gardens provide a peaceful setting for a morning stroll, while the National Park Visitor Centre offers an excellent introduction to the history, wildlife, and geology of Killarney National Park. Admission is free, making it a worthwhile stop.

Gap of Dunloe Tour– The highlight of our stay in Killarney turned out to be the ‘Gap of Dunloe Tour’ with Wild Kerry Tours.

Our coach picked us up near Killarney town centre at 10:30 AM and after a 30-minute drive we arrived at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, the starting point of the famous Gap of Dunloe.

Visitors have several choices:Walk the entire route (about two hours), Hire a bicycle or Take a traditional horse-drawn Jaunting Car. We chose the Jaunting Car.

Initially there were a few anxious moments because no carriages were immediately available, but fortunately everything worked out. The one-and-a-half-hour ride through the narrow mountain pass was one of the most memorable experiences of our Ireland trip. The ride was bumpy and the seating was somewhat cramped with four adults plus the driver but none of that mattered as the scenery was breathtaking—mountains rising on both sides, crystal-clear lakes, grazing sheep, and almost no modern development. It felt like stepping back in time.

Brandon Cottage – At the end of the ride we reached Brandon Cottage, where we stopped for lunch before boarding a boat.

Boat Ride through Killarney National Park– Although the Gap of Dunloe itself lies outside the national park, the return boat journey takes you through the very heart of Killarney National Park.This one-and-a-quarter-hour cruise through the interconnected lakes and rivers was peaceful and scenic. Passing wooded shores, small islands, and finally arriving at Ross Castle gave us an entirely different perspective of the park.

A short coach ride brought us back to Killarney by about 4 PM.

If someone asked me to choose just one activity in Killarney, this would easily be my recommendation.

Day 3 – Ring of Kerry Tour

No visit to southwest Ireland is complete without driving the famous Ring of Kerry.

Since we were not renting a car, we joined another tour by Wild Kerry Tours.

The first stop was the Bog Village, which, in our opinion, was designed primarily as a tourist attraction. We didn’t feel it justified the admission fee and would instead recommend spending the time browsing the nearby souvenir shop or enjoying a coffee. Fortunately, the day improved considerably afterwards.

Sheepdog Demonstration- Without doubt, the sheepdog demonstration was the highlight of the tour.Watching the sheepdogs respond instantly to the owner’s whistle commands and effortlessly guide the sheep across the hillside was fascinating. It offered an authentic glimpse into rural Irish farming traditions.

Scenic Viewpoints- The tour included several scenic stops along the Ring of Kerry, including lunch at Moll’s Gap, where vegetarian options such as soup and salad were available.

We also stopped once again at Ladies View. Seeing it for the second time confirmed our earlier conclusion—we needn’t have made a separate taxi trip on the previous day.

Overall, while the scenery throughout the Ring of Kerry is undeniably beautiful, we felt the day involved considerably more driving than sightseeing. If you enjoy scenic road trips, you’ll likely appreciate it more than we did.

Day 4 – Onward to Galway

After three enjoyable days in Killarney, it was time to board another train—this time heading west to Galway, where another unforgettable adventure awaited: the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands.

Looking back, Killarney National Park exceeded our expectations. While Torc Waterfall and Ladies View are pleasant stops, they are not what made the park memorable for us. The true magic lies in experiencing the landscape slowly—whether riding a Jaunting Car through the Gap of Dunloe, gliding across the lakes by boat, or simply wandering through the peaceful gardens and forests.